From what I've heard, either of those two would be great. the Placid is the US Nationals for Ironman distance so you may have some TV coverage and pros :) Plus I hear it's a good venue and good run course (mostly flat).

I think your goals for the season prior (2005) sound good. the halfs and the marathon will give you a good idea as to what you can expect and where your conditioning is. The key however will be maintaining your fitness and carrying it into the 2006. Sounds like a good plan! Good luck, have fun, and keep us posted.

Which halfs are you thinking about for next year?

Thanks for the advice, training on the IM WI course sounds like a swell idea. I am erring towards IM Canada because it is latter in the season and therefore would give me more time to get ready.

Can't wait to enter some races for next year. I have taken a month 1/2 off and intend to start a winter conditioning program concentrating on my weaknesses and form for the swim and bike.

I've done both IM Lake Placid & Canada, and personally I love Lake Placid. The 2 loop format means you get much more crowd support which by the end of bike & run is what you need to keep going. The crowd is also much more vocal than polite Canadian audiences (I can say that coz I'm Canadian!).

I'm a bit baffled by someone who said that LP run course was flat - have you seen the profile?! Have you run the course?! There are 2-3 serious hills in there, but the crowd is awesome and keeps you going up them.

Having said all this, remember that everyone has their own personal preferences.

Go international! The only difference in cost will be in airfare. Make it a vacation, head to France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Lanzarote. Check out the "Road to Kona" issue of Inside Triathlon Magazine. It details all foreign and domestic races.

Some might consider this sacrilege...but the only thing that makes an Ironman,"Ironman" is the corporateness of it all.
There are a growing number of Iron distance races around the country that are well run,beautiful,smaller and cheaper. Sure you won't get to go to Kona but that is out of reach for most of us anyway. You might consider one of those... Don't get me wrong...I LOVE Ironman,it's a wonderful experience, but have to consider non-corporate races as an option due to money constraints.
As I said before...Best of luck!

I am doing the IM Florida in November 2006. I heard that it is a good course for a 1st time IM.
The swim is in the Gulf of Mexico, warmer water(cool enough for a wetsuit) and buoyancy from the salt water. The bike is pretty flat and so is the run. Florida in November so the temp is mild.

I was also looking at the Great Floridian IM Distance. Not IM but same season as IMFL and pretty close in conditions.

I guess everybody wants to make a buck on an IM finisher.

The whopping race fee isn't enough?

I hope so. I think I shelled out enough $$$ already and I didn't even do the event yet!!

But it hurts! and I haven't done the IM yet !! :eek:

I got that survey too. I ony assumed we had to pay for the pictures, just like any other race. I dont like the fact that you pay $400 + and then get a teeshirt...HELLO I know they want you to buy finisher stuff, but even the local 1/2 marathons around here provide technical finisher shirts (THANK GOD Disney World Marathon finally got a clue with that last year after years of giving a teeshirt out).
BBB- How DO you get a hold of your pictures????

A T-shirt is all you get.?

What does it say?

"I did an Ironman and all I got was this lousy T-shirt"

Sounds pretty weak. What else do you get in your good bag?

You gat, a medal, a towelette, a finisher hat, a rubber (Lance kind of band) saying Ironman Canada and a t-shirt along with more stuff to help you spend MORE $$$$$. AND wait, you also get to beat the hell of of yourself for the low, LOW cost of $575 Canadian!! A bargin and a half.

I'll take two please....
BBB

oh yeah, forgot about the wrist thingy, and well the towell thing was in our number pick up crap so I forgot to mention that valuable gift. :)

ehehehe...but you GET the chance to do an IM :)

because then you couldnt buy all that cool stuff the day after...HELLO spent $300 the next morning (was in line at 6:45).

oh I am sure. How would they know if you actually WERE a finisher? Although would someone REALLY do that? I was there so early, to make sure I got something in MY SIZE! What is wrong with people? We got to the merchandise tent on Thursday afternoon (keep in mind it only opened on Wednesday) and EVERY fleece in Womens M or Mens Small wer GONE. This was also the case with most of their technical clothing (bike jerseys etc). WHAT ARE THEY THINKING??? This happend to me the year before last at the DW marathon....that time they did not even bother to order any Small items (jackets were all Mens) only M-XL. Ok, MOST people who do an IM or a marathon are not an XL. I am not teeny by ANY means but even the Mens Small finisher fleece I got is a bit large. I dont get it.

ehehehehe YES...over $800 just for the race and the crap I bought (US $). Wait, that does not include the tattoo either, not including that since it didnt go to IM :)
oh well, its just money and you cannot take it with you. May as well spend it and have fun. :D